2018 Oscar Best Picture Nominee Reviews

I'll be watching the 2018 Academy Awards at home with mom (only right after our annual Oscarfest) this year and am excited to how all these movies fare. There were some really good ones and some eh ones, but ultimately one of the most diverse years we've had in a while. Want more of my opinions?? Keep reading...

Call Me By Your Name ★★★★★

If I can't spend at least one summer of my life in a county home in Italy then I'm going to be pissed. The movie is beautifully and nostalgically (can you experience nostalgia if you didn’t live through it?) set in 1980s Italy and I’m in love with it. Albeit, there were some parts of this movie that made me highly uncomfortable, it’s still my favorite and I hope it can take home the little gold guy.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri ★★★★

I actually liked this one a lot more than I thought I would…like even when the movie was over, I was still kind of stunned that I liked it. The characters are really rough, but in an enjoyable way. And while it’s disappointing to see another terrible portrayal of Missouri (i.e. Ozarks and Winter’s Bone), at least no one is an admitted or implied meth addict.

Lady Bird ★★★★

On the other hand, I thought I would like Lady Bird a lot more than I did. It is a great story of a rocky mother-daughter relationship with a side of preadolescent angsty struggles. I guess I can’t quite pinpoint what didn’t do it for me…but something didn’t?

The Post ★★★★

It’s another pretty straightforward story of investigative journalism, this time about the Pentagon Papers. Of course, it was well-told and dramatic as hell, but maybe a little too dramatic when told between viewings of war movies and fish sex…

The Shape of Water ★★★★

Speaking of fish sex. I really did enjoy this movie. It was interesting and the vintage vibes were great, but it just didn’t have the feel of a favorite to me. I liked the characters a lot too as they unfold around the unlikely coupling of woman and fantastical, sea creature. Oh, it’s weird alright…but it’s good.

Darkest Hour ★★★

This movie actually really helped me to understand British culture better: stoic, stubborn and loyal…did I get that right? I enjoyed getting more of insight into early-Prime-Ministership Churchill, since a lot of what I’ve seen recently is from The Crown. All in all, it was definitely worth the watch, but nothing to write home about.

Get Out ★★★

Woah. No one can actually give you an accurate teaser for this movie. “It’s like a horror comedy about racism,” is what I picked up on before watching it. I’m gonna go with “satirical thriller with a backwards take on racism?” I don’t know—I said it couldn’t be done. Anyway I was eh about it, but I liked the creative concept of the plot

Dunkirk ★★

A most disappointing war story if you ask me. I didn’t know anything about Dunkirk before I pressed play on this sucker, and maybe that was the issue, but the telling was terribly confusing. If you haven’t seen any of these yet, my suggestion would be to see Darkest Hour first…just so you’re seeing these two overlapping movies in chronological order of events.

Phantom Thread ★

No. I did not enjoy this at all. It was long and slow and strange and unclear. Just no.

2017 Book Report

Somewhere down the long stretch of I-70, or maybe hidden in one of the tiny towns along Highway 54, I thought I probably 'oughta keep track of all the books I've read (well, listened to) this year. Behold my semi-complete, non-chronological list of 35 books completed in 2017, plus a rating (out of ★★★★★), plus a random memory I associate with the book:

How to Fall in Love with Anyone ★★ A six-mile run in Bolivar, stretching in the parking lot of the First Baptist Rec Center where I parked
Rules of Civility ★★★ Being one of the first audiobooks to hear on Bluetooth in my new Toyota RAV4
Tuesdays in 1980 ★★★★★ Waking up early in Destin, Florida to read and sip coffee on the patio overlooking the beach
Girls in the Moon ★★ On the flight back from Destin, Florida being very, veryyyy sunburnt
The Girls ★★ Mowing the yard
Lilac Girls ★★★ Staining the handrail of my new stairwell
Tulip Fever ★★★ Flight to Falmouth, Massachusetts for the Road Race
Small Great Things ★★ Feeling very awkward when my car Bluetooth synced up very loudly and one of the characters was making incredibly racists comments
Dark Places ★★ Driving from Lee's Summit to Bolivar
The Thin Man ★★ Cleaning my house to rent out for a Mizzou game day weekend
The Circle ★★ Driving from Columbia to St. Louis
Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore ★★★ Folding laundry and realizing I ruined a green sweater
The Swans of Fifth Avenue ★★★ Thinking that I really need to read Breakfast at Tiffany's
Spoonbenders ★★★★★ Crunches in the driveway
Into the Water ★★★ Looping around at the two-mile mark on the Bear Creek Trail
Today Will be Different ★★★ Driving from St. Louis to Columbia
Moonglow ★★★★ Mowing the yard
What She Knew ★★★ Getting gas just outside of St. Louis
The Trespasser ★★ Tirelessly attempting to mount my curtain rod at just the right height for my new IKEA curtains
A Man Called Ove ★★★★ Finishing a run of my three-mile-loop-from-home
A Beautiful Blue Death ★★ Driving from Columbia to Harrisonville
Not That Kind of Girl ★★ Painting my main level the most beautifully, neutral color: smoke
Pretty Girls ★★★ Being the last audiobook to hear via aux cable in my Toyota Corolla
Hello, Sunshine ★★ Finishing an audiobook and not having another lined up
Words in Deep Blue ★★★★★ Taking out my pearl earrings after work
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ★★★ Wondering if I have anything to pick-up at the dry cleaners I might've forgotten
The Goldfinch ★★★★ Making a cup of tea before bed
The ABC Murders ★★★ Digging up accessories for my Halloween costumes
Fierce Kingdom ★★★★ Driving from St. Louis to Columbia
White Fur ★★★★ Reading in the bath and obsessing over the weirdness of these characters
Fates & Furies ★★★★ Painting the afore mentioned new stairwell
Murder on the Orient Express ★★★★ Thinking about what to wear to the JES Holiday Party
Saints for All Occasions ★★★ Raking the yard
The Couple Next Door ★★ Making this totally underwhelming lemon chicken recipe

Wutherington Heights ★★ Driving home for Christmas

A Few of My Favorite Things ... Running Gear

In 46 hours and five minutes, I will embark on the activity of running for about five hours straight. The marathon is almost here and to reassure myself that we can indeed do this, I've put together a list of all my trusty friends who've made the training miles (kind of) bearable over the last couple of months.

Reliable Pair of Earbuds

These are the greatest earbuds of all time...apparently everyone else agrees, because they were discontinued and now cost $60. But, if I had to buy another pair, I would bet on this similar style by JVC (the same manufacturer). Either way, what makes or breaks your running game is a solid pair of earbuds. It has to be something that fits snuggly in your ear through bound after bound, rain (or sweat) or shine. This isn't something you can settle on...buy new earbuds, it's worth having a pair you love.

LifeProof iPhone Case

Unfortunately, I'm sweaty...and I run with my phone strapped down under my right arm between my sweaty skin and my sports bra. So, I can't mess around when it comes to iPhone protection. I recently switched over from my iPhone 5 and the LifeProof case to an iPhone 6 with the LifeProof Nuud case. While both were totally effective at keeping my phone dry, the Nuud is sooooo much thinner that it actually makes the iPhone 6 feel smaller than the iPhone 5 tucked under my arm. In addition to it's slimmer size, it doesn't have the plastic over over the screen AND it detects your thumbprint ID through the case...making for easy use even when it's covered in sweat.

Clif Shot Blok Energy Chews

Thank you, Hannah Harris. I had been taking those energy jelly beans on my runs, but only like three or four right when I left. Hannah suggested these lovely (though a bit too chewy) Clif Blok Energy Chews regularly throughout the run and they have been incredible! Seriously, just a burst of energy to get you out of those slumps when you're struggling. 

Cheap Sunglasses

There are some things you need to spend money on in order to meet your needs...for me, sunglasses is not one of them. Do they shade the sun? Do they stay firmly on the top of my head when not needed? Are they lightweight and require minimum fidgeting? Then there good enough for me. Unfortunately, last year for the float trip, I ordered wayyyy too many of these cheap sunglasses...fortunately, they meet all of my running sunglasses standards and I have about 100 of them in case I lose any.

Halo II Pullover Headband

While I'm willing to go cheap on sunglasses, I'm not gonna settle with what I use to hold by my whispy hairs. This Halo Headband has been my reliable, trusty headband choice since I purchased it in order to meet the minimum for free shipping on a pair of shoes. My mom once stole my Lululemon headband and offered to trade it back for this Halo one...and I wouldn't do it. That's how much I love it.

Nail Clippers
Specifically, toenail clippers. Although this piece of wisdom was shared with me before I had even started my marathon training by my wonderful and marathon-experienced ex-track coach, it wasn't until the 18 mile run where I experiences the pain and agony of running long distances with slightly too long toenails. THEY WEREN'T EVEN THAT LONG. But I now have three purple/black toenails and keep them as short as possible for my remaining runs.

That's it. Those are my favorite running things. I have sports bras I prefer and spandex shorts that I like to wear for races...but they aren't really my favorite. I have standards, ya know?

2016 Academy Award Best Pictures [ and a Running Tour of KC ]

In anticipation of the Academy Awards, the Roweton girls assemble in Kansas City or St. Louis to watch through each of the Best Picture nominations. We call this event Oscarfest and it is a wonderful weekend spent lounging in reclining chairs ordering off a menu and settling into little indie theaters where they don’t butter the popcorn (Rag Tag Cinema, I’m looking at you).

We woke up Saturday morning and went for a run. I did 7.5 without mom, then picked her up back at our loft and did another 2 miles to review the sites. Here are all the cool things you can see in a 9.5 mile radius of downtown Kansas City...

Anyway, this year’s Best Picture nominees are…

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ The Big Short
Woah. This movie is very, educational and entertaining. It explains the crash of the housing market through the story of three individuals/groups who were the first to bet against what was consider the most stable thing you could invest in. You'll have to excuse my poor vocabulary on the subject: while I left the movie feeling pretty competent about what went down leading up to the crash, I can't remember all the terminology associated with investment banking. GREAT movie, though.

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Bridge of Spies
Bridge of Spies poses an intriguing question of if America should give the same rights to non-American individuals (spies) arrested in our country, particularly in regards to a trial. I really enjoyed the characters in this movie and would definitely recommend, though it was a bit slow for my taste.

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Brooklyn
Brooklyn was a cute little love flick that I really enjoyed. The main character spends most of the movie looking very sad, but the ending is nice and happy. Mom and I were both enthralled by her love interest who is the sweetest, most charming, charismatic guy in Brooklyn...probably. As I heard in a podcast, it seems a little out-of-place for a best picture nomination, but it was still a really great movie with some pretty beautiful shots. 

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Mad Max: Fury Road

This was one of those movies where I somehow never managed to see a preview or really hear about the plot, because when I finally stapled Aaron to the couch and started watching this…woah. It’s a seriously creative story, told in a wildly imaginative setting by some very aggressive, mechanophilia minds (men). I still need to see this one again in order to decide whether I really liked it, but the more I think about it, the more I think I’m gonna love Mad Max after my next viewing.

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ The Martian

Unlike Mad Max, this was exactly the kind of movie I expected it to be: classic story of solo space survival. It's a great story, though! Matt Damon is a little bit funny (or a lot fun, according to the Golden Globes) and it's very interesting to watch all the problem solving he does in space. I liked it, but I think it's kind of been done.

⋆ ⋆ The Revenant
This movie is just NOT my style - I knew it wouldn't be. I don't want to spoil anything but if I could describe this movie in three words, they would be: exhausting, disgusting and shocking. 

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Room

This move was really incredible. Such a unique and tragic story, with an emotional (if not stressful) climax and a painfully real ending. Both of the main actors were great and their chemistry, which was essential to this story, was so believable. It was such a well-told story, and although it was upsetting, I really enjoyed the movie. 

⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ Spotlight
My favorite movie the bunch was Spotlight: a story of The Boston Globe's exposure of the horrific number of Catholic priests involved in child molestation and the neglect of acknowledgement by the Catholic church. To say the story was extremely upsetting would be an understatement, but it was well-told and I think essential to generate awareness of such a appalling controversy.

Unfortunately, since the Academy Awards are on Sunday night, we can’t spend the night watching with Mom. Even more unfortunately, we don’t have cable…so, if not for the kindness of the Anderson, I couldn’t watch the Oscars at all! I’ll drag Aaron along under the pretenses that “we’ll probably play some games too.” When the Best Picture winner is finally announced, there is no doubt in my mind that even though I’ve seen more of the movies than anyone else who filled out an Oscar voting ballot—I will still lose.

Runners Guide: What to Wear in Winter Weather

I got news for ya: IT IS COLD. Why did we choose a marathon for which all the training would take place in snow, chilling winds and below freezing temperatures? I guess it was a good way to make sure we would stick with it. Anyway, I learned pretty quickly what to wear to keep my ears, fingers and buns from going complete numb.

Here’s a little sample of my very warmest get-up on one of our very coldest days: 14 mile long run.

By the way, I only have like four poses (which I'm sure you've seen from my 41 Hit Wonderful Outfit post poses...
1. Hand on one hip
2. Both hands on hips
3. Arms crossed
4. Arms to the sides
But apparently, I also have 5. Lame running, in my repertoire.

Thanks Blair for putting up with my little mini photo sesh before our run. Bet you're real glad I was the only person in this town you could trick into training with you...

10 Tips for a Stay-at-Home Valentines Date

Well. The pains of being a girlfriend to a start-up loving boyfriend, is that sometimes he has to work a conference booth in New Orleans over Valentine's Day weekend. Oh, don't you worry, he'll make that up to me as soon as he gets back. Now, if he were here or if I had been on-the-ball enough to prepare this a couple weeks ago, we still would have stayed in for Valentine's Day. We're both trying to save money and I like to make plain, old everyday things feel new and magical. Here's how:

1. Decorate
Set the table in advance and use all your nice dishes. Craft or find a romantic centerpiece, even if it's as simple as candles on flipped wine glasses and a couple carnations. Make a string of hearts as a garland across the mantle. Dim the lights and ignite every candle you have handy. Make an extra soft and fluffy pillow fort to watch your movie or set up a spa for trading massages.

I started to use all the things I had to set the table and had two different ideas.

So, that's what happened... 

      

(How romantic are those 1970s era chairs, eh?

A new dining room table is definitely on my wishlist.)

2. Make a Playlist
Again, try to find some music that is out of the ordinary for you. It's alright to be a little cheesy with your playlist...it's Valentine's Day! Check out Spotify for some suggested playlists of love or a waste a little workday on Friday, February 12 to search around and download some sweet songs. Here are some of my favorite love songs you should give a listen:
(DISCLOSURE: I kind of like sad songs.)

Save Tonight, Eagle-Eye Cherry
We Loved, Juliet Piper
Everywhere, Fleetwood Mac
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You), James Taylor
Higher Love, James Vincent McMorrow
Dancing Shoes, Green River Ordinance
Thirteen, Ben Kweller

3. Plan a Fancy Dinner
When choosing your recipe, be careful not to pick something that is too difficult. Read through the directions and make sure you have all the kitchen utensils and cooking equipment before you get your hopes up. In searching for our Valentine's date dinner, I've assembled a list of some great ideas for you too try!

4. Get Dressed Up
I know you're just at home, and I know it will probably take some convincing, but nothing will make your evening in feel more magical than if you both look and feel sexy.

5. Cook Together
Now, a fancy dinner can be so fun to make together, but be careful. Sometimes the pressure of a new recipe or the frustration of mistaken measurements may result in stress and tension that could likely lead to a couple's kitchen conflict. It's definitely a bummer if the meal doesn't turn out like you had hoped, but don't let it ruin your evening: order take out, put it out on your nice table setting and laugh about it. Don't get too hung up on getting to the actual meal, instead focus on the process of cooking together as you go.

6. Sit Down and Enjoy
Once the meal is made, sit down at your well-made table and enjoy it. Most nights, Aaron and I eat dinner at the coffee table in front of the TV...but for Valentine's Day, we might make more of an effort to sit down and enjoy each other's company.

7. Have Some Champagne
Celebrate with a little bubbly! If you really wanna be cheeseball, make a toast :)

8. Don't Forget Dessert
I usually can't manage to eat dessert after a big dinner, but we'll probably have something sweet for after our post-dinner event. Here's a little Valentine's dessert hack: strawberries dipped in Nutella tastes almost exactly like chocolate-covered strawberries...except it's way more simple and cheap.

9. Choose a Post-Dinner Activity
We would probably just cuddle up and watch a movie by candlelight. But there's plenty of nice, couply things you could do to make the night magical...

• Watch a Movie with a Drinking Game
• Wine/Beer Tasting
• Play a Board/Card Game
• Roast Marshmallows Fireside
• Give Massages and Foot Rubs
• Make Fondue Chocolate
• Take a Bubble Bath
• Read a Book Aloud
• Do Couples Yoga
• Look Through Old Pictures
• Watch Your Wedding Video
• Set Up a Scavenger Hunt
• Go Through Some Conversation Cards
• Play the Not-So-Newlywed Game

10. Kiss
Of course kissing is probably a pretty standard part of a any ol' day, but for Valentine's Day...maybe just make it a little more special. Kiss more frequently than normal, and have a little make-out sesh during your movie. Don't forget how romantic kissing is, and unlike a restaurant or public place, you can kiss alllllll you want at home. So take advantage of it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

10 Office Lunch Hacks

I work in an office. My Marketing department is in the basement where the only "kitchen accessories" is a mini-frig in the fitness center. On the second floor are the coffee makers, ice machine, dishwasher and filtered water faucets. The third floor is home to well-stocked breakroom and kitchen: commercial (double-door) refrigerator, dishwasher, ice machine, oven, toaster, two microwaves and filtered water faucets. In addition to appliance, the cabinets offer a variety of dishes, cookware, utensils and seasonings.

Let it also be known that I live about twenty minutes from work and don't have the dough to eat out every meal. So, the office lunch life for meeee! I've been at it a while, the whole lunching-from-my-desk routine, and have learned a thing or two about how to do it right.

1. Get one of these. A personal, 20-ounce food warmer is exactly what you need to save a trip to the microwave. Not to mention, it plugs in anywhere and is super discrete, so you can anticipate your meal from the aroma of it warming slowly behind you you while you work.

2. Dude, leftovers. Do not underestimate the value of a warm, homemade meal...even if it is a re-heated, homemade yesterday meal. When I make pasta or plan a crockpot meal, I do so with the intention of having leftovers.

3. Be fancy! I haven't even considered some of these portable office lunch ideas. I'm not sure I'm up to the time commitment here, but these recipes look like they would be so fun to try! As of right now, my idea of "fancy," is when I take the time to make a "grilled" ham and cheese sandwich instead of my standard sandwich.

4. Pack the night before. Of course you can't do this with everything, but you can do it with a lot! I'm sure you know all about the meal-prepping that's taking the country by storm, but it can be more simple than that too. I've started making these overnight oats for breakfast (they're like bland in a really good way). If you do salads, you can make them the night before by stacking the layers in a mason jar so that your dressing doesn't sog everything up and the lettuce stays nice and crisp on the top.

5. Bring the whole damn bag. It takes a little self control, but it's one less thing you have to tote to the office each morning. I keep a stash of something munchie (white cheddar Cheez-its, almonds, trail mix) at my desk and a bag of baby carrots and box of half-n-half in the fitness center mini-frig. When you use half-n-half like I do, you kinda gotta bring your own. My co-worker, Mark, brings the sandwich "fixin's" and makes it right there at his desk - that could be you!

6. Keep your desk-drawer stocked. Even if you don't stuff whole bags of almonds into your desk, don't forget to keep your essential condiments handy: salt and pepper, hot sauce, soy sauce, mustard, ketchup (packets obviously), olive oil, peanut butter.

7. Invest in a grown-up lunchbox. If you don't have access to a double-door, commercial refrigerator (or a mini-frig for that matter), it's time to get a grown-up lunchbox. I was going to find some cool lunchbox ideas, but then I found this post from Brit + Co and I think they've got 'em all.

8. Try a wrap instead. It's hard being one person. Even if you make a sandwich everyday, you can't really use a whole loaf of  bread in a week. Sure, if you don't buy Aldi bread, it probably lasts a little longer. But, if you do buy Aldi break, or struggle to use all your bread before it stales, try making wraps instead! They're lighter, healthier and the only change is using shredded cheese (which I KNOW you have). Bonus round: once you notice your bread going stale, remove what is left from the bag and set it out to harden. Crumble it up and you've got bread crumbs! Never buy those. They're too easy to make.

9. Keep emergency lunches on hand. Cans of hearty soups and a couple frozen meals are good to have in backstock. These aren't ideal, since they're more expensive and usually less healthy, but they work in a pinch. Depending on what you've got left at the end of the week, you may consider a simple cheese, meat and cracker combination for lunch.

10. Treat yourself, sparingly. It's ok to eat out or order in for lunch evyery now and again, but don't make a habit of it (Blair, I'm looking at you). While a freaky fast sandwich delivery or lunch out for a department birthday are not only fun, but easy, you can save a pretty penny by making it a habit to make lunch. Additionally, it is a bit more tricky to eat healthy when you aren't making your own food. Bonus round: make your meal out into two lunches! A large order at a sit down restaurant can easily be leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Now, that's a win.

Does anyone else have any good lunch hacks they put into practice?

Another (2016) New Year's Resolutions Post

As we approach a new year and look forward to the future, let's take a step back and check out my past New Year's Resolutions...

2014 New Years Resolutions
Pretty standard post here. I broke out my very specific goals into personal and professional, and even went as far as to later blog about the 2014 Goal Tracker. This was a pretty kickass (and beautifully designed) idea, if I do say so myself, but I really only kept up with it for one month and posted this Update: January 2014 Goals review...as if you needed a month-by-month update on how many glasses of water I consumed each day. Sorry about that.

Ambiguous, Informal Resolutions of 2015
Then, in 2015, I toned it down to just some general guidelines for improving myself in 2015. All were very typical goals: budget, workout, travel, read, etc. This was a pretty drastic change from my insanely planned out 2014 Goal Tracker, but I am not sure it worked for me.

While I liked the idea of the 2014 Goal Tracker, that sucker was just WAY too strictly managed. Firstly, there was so little flexibility. Secondly, while it was super cute, it wasn't all that efficient. I was carrying around a planner and a goal tracker and a to do list. This year, I've worked up another scheme (heaven forbid I just set some resolutions and get on with my life like everyone else)...

I have a specific list of daily, weekly and year long goals for 2016. Very specific, but not without flexibility.


First, and foremost:
WAKE UP AND BE AWESOME

That's kind of my motto for 2016...

Daily

• Attempt to eat breakfast 
• Assign three top tasks
• Drink seven water bottles
• Incorporate toning into workouts

Weekly

• Take one (and only one) bath 
• No technology
• Write a blog post
• Be creative
• Send some love

Monthly

• Find one, new healthy recipe
• Set a budget
• Plan a date night

Year Long

• Increase the value of my house
• Run a marathon
• Learn calligraphy
• Make new friends
• Play more sports

AND I have a new tracker/planner layout...
(I don't know why I can't stick with one, damn planner layout, BUT I CAN'T. OK?)

You know my favorite planners (customized and Uncalendar) are not specific to a date, but allow you to just print the pages in bulk and write in the numbers of the days. First is the monthly page: tracking on one side, specific to my personal goals for 2016, and a calendar on the other.

Then is the daily page, which includes: weather, day, to-do list, goal tracking lists and appointment/scheduling/doodling space. Part of my "being creative" was to doodle a bit everyday, and what better place to do so than right on my daily planner pages.

    

I haven't shared my love of the Staples Arc planners, yet...you see the strange punching on the side of my planner pages? I bought a specific hole-punch so I could use personalized planner pages, but the Arc brand also has pre-made planners pages. What is cool about them is that the pages are movable...so, if I really need to get my doodle on, I just gently pull the page out and doodle a bit and "snap" it back into the rings. Or, if I mess up, I just pull out that page and start over. AND I don't have to buy a new planner every year...I just print more pages as I need them and snap 'em right in. Pretty neat. They also come with cool pouches and dividers and bookmarks.

 

Party Plan Like a Pro // Pick a Theme and GO WILD

For my 25th birthday, I decided to take a page from my mother's book and GO BIG. Since I'm younger and way more self-centered, I planned my party to be strictly Kait-themed. First move was easy: GINGER. This set the pace for the totally random menu...

Gingerbread Kaits
with orange gel to decorate them yourself

Philly, California and Cucumber Rolls

with plenty of ginger on the side

Kait's Favorite Funfetti Cake Bars

(not ginger, but stupid delicious)

Ginger Veggie Shots

including orange peppers, carrots and cucumbers (for good measure)
and delicious cheesy bacon ranch dip

Logboat Shiphead Ginger Wheat

Gin(ger) Buckets

one for each of the four teams

TRIVIA

After that began the games. Twelve guests were divided into four teams by color. We opened with Kait Trivia, a simple PowerPoint I created and set-up on the TV. Quick tips for creating a low-budget trivia presentation:

1. Separate questions into three to four categories with ten questions each. 

2. Consider your audience and how they will respond the difficulty of the questions.

3. Ask each question on it's own slide and then repeat the question when you show the answer.

4. Look for loop holes in questions. If they are there, your competitive friends WILL FIND THEM.

5. Do not forget index cards and pens for each team. Boy, that would be embarrassing.

PICTIONARY

Trivia was a hit! I think? Even if it was all about me. Then, we played a little variation of pictionary...that I could never think of a name for. Anyway, here's out it worked: I created like 20 cards with a (mostly) identifiable photo from my Instagram, the name of the event that was occurring and a point value. Then teams had to draw only what was in the Instagram (not what they thought would help team members guest the correct event). I think it was fun...fun for ME at least!

BEER PONG + BATTLESHOTS

Finally, we teams out into smaller teams of two, for beer pong, and one, for battleshots. Beer pong cups all had pretty selfies of my face and the battleshots was played with redheaded slut jello shots. FUN. This went down in tournament style, so there was plenty of fun down time for photo booth pictures.

PHOTOBOOTH

You cannot go wrong with a photo booth. Party trick: throw in a wild card prop, such as over-sized whitey tighties.

Tasting My Way to a Perfect Cheese Platter

At some point in my Pinteresting, I got it in my head that I need to make a cheese platter. Once I started searching for ideas and tips, I just could stop...and 11:45 a.m. with a growling stomach was not the ideal time.

I'm not gonna pretend I made one cheese platter and now I know enough to tell you how to do it. But, I would love to show you where I got good advice from and what I learned along the way.

Here is where you start. What makes up a cheese platter?
Anatomy of a Cheese Platter (Eats and Beats)
Elegant Entertaining: How to Make a Sophisticated Cheese Platter (Craftsy)
How to Make the Perfect Party Cheese Platter (Ambitious Kitchen)

Then, you're just gonna want to hop around and see what combinations people are suggesting and what accompaniments they use besides cheese and meat.
How to Make a Cheese Plate (Andie Mitchell)
How to Build the Perfect Cheese Tray (Julia Ryan)
How to Build the Perfect Cheese Plate (William-Sonoma)
How to Build the Perfect Cheese Plate (Style Me Pretty)

Get some final tips to make sure you aren't missing anything.
5 Tips for Creating the Perfect Cheese Platter (A Beautiful Mess)
Tips for Setting Up a Cheese & Charcuterie Spread (Celebrations at Home)
Cheese Platter Basics: Tips for the Perfect Spread (Food, Folks and Fun)

Some that I learned, for example include:

• Be sure to let your cheese come to room temperature before serving in order to get the full flavor.
• Instead of serving on a plate or platter, consider using craft paper as a "table cloth" and serve right off it. You can write on the paper to label each cheese and meat.
• Keep in mind your guests' preference. Since this was the first time we have done this, I just picked a couple that looked good as a jumping off point. But, I learned that essentially no one liked brie (except me), so we'll probably try something different in its place next time.
• Provide one knife per cheese to keep the flavors straight.
• Choose "vehicles" (crackers) with very mild flavors as to ensure you get the full flavor of the cheese.
• Offer at least one familiar cheese. Not everyone will be so adventurous, so be sure to have a classic on standby.

Then, don't forget your wine pairings! Entertaining Guide: Wine and Cheese Pairings (Little Family Adventure)

Or your options for labeling the cheeses... Forks? Stemless Forks? Craft Paper? Wine Corks? Wine Corks? Chalkboard Plate? Flags on Toothpicks? Plain Old White Porcelain? I bought mine on clearance at, believe it or not, Gerbes.

I loved the cheddar, but I opted for aged, instead of white this time...which was a mistake. The spicy gouda was good to have on hand as an option, but not one of my favorites. As I told you, the brie wasn't a hit, so I will leave it off the next platter. The Asiago was that familiar cheese that was good to have on hand for the less adventurous. Most all of the accompaniments were a success, but only because Trever liked olives so much that he ate an entire party's worth of them.

We'll see what the next platter has in store...I am thinking I would like to try at least one more obscure cheese option and definitely more prosciutto.

The Quick Clean Checklist

It's a Wednesday night and you seriously want to partake in the Imo's BOGO special, but you really need another couple to justify two X-Large pizzas. So, last minute plans are made and you've got just a couple of hours before company comes over to join you in Imo's goodness and probably need to use your bathroom. But when did you last clean your bathroom...?

Time is limited, but the checklist below is prioritized. So start at the top and work your way down through what you can with the time you have. Good luck, you little host(ess), you.

1. Light a Candle

First and foremost, light a candle. One in your main, hosting space and another in the bathroom. If this is a last-minute, over-night guest, you better get a candle going in the guestroom too. 

2. Close Idle Rooms

It's simple enough, if you won't be using the room...shut the door. Problem solved, one less room to clean.

2. Tidy-up a Bit

Starting with the space in which you will mostly be hosting, just start picking-up. Fluff and arrange throw pillows how you like, put away the mail on the table, any dirty dishes should be in the dishwasher, shoes in your room (not by the door), etc. etc. Don't forget your outside patio or porch!

3. Clean the Toilet

No matter what kind of last-minute even you're hosting, the worst thing you can have is a disgusting toilet. Take the bowl cleanser and squirt along the inside of the bowl. Scrub the bowl with your toilet brush and then let the cleanser sit until the toilet is used. Do a quick dust of the toilet surfaces and then a basic surface cleaner and paper towel job around the outside. 

4. Bathroom Counters + Mirror

Watermarks and grimy faucet edges can really make a bathroom look grosser than it is. Using the same surface cleaner and paper towels, clean the counters and mirror as needed. If you've still got tough grime on the faucet edges, a little water and old toothbrush will do a fine temporary job until you can get some Comet in on a deeper clean job.

(If guests are staying over-night, a quick shower rinse should be done as well. It's not ideal, but if you can just give the edges and shelves a rinse so there isn't hair or grit anywhere...that would be nice. When you knock out everything else on the list, the next item would be a good Comet scrub along the tub or shower base.)

5. Wipe Kitchen Counters

Crumbs accumulate so quickly, ya know? Just take a wet hand towel and wipe the kitchen counters as best you can. Be sure to wipe any watermarks around the sink too. Don't forget the kitchen table!

6. Surface Dust

Dust isn't usually too noticeable...unless you haven't dusted in a really long time. Just try to hit those really obvious areas: TV and TV stand, shelves, books, frames, etc. 

7. Sweep + Swiffer

Bathroom first, then kitchen. I am not sure if you have a Swiffer, but I highly recommend them as a quick-fix for floors. I usually only sweep and Swiffer anyways, with a serious hands-and-knees scrub about every three months. 

8. Vacuum 

Again, start in the main, hosting space. Then hit the hallways and, if needed, the guestroom. Then put the vacuum away...you would hate to be seated next to your vacuum and all it's corded glory over dinner.

Hopefully your last minute plans are well worth the quick clean, but if they aren't...well at least you actually cleaned-up a bit for once this week.

Party Plan Like Pro // Pre-Party Logistics

SUE'S HALF CENTURY CHALLENGE
My mom turned 50 this year! She took the least awkward, most humble approached and embraced her age head on. Back in August, the two of us dreamed up celebrating her birthday with an activity (or three) that would bring her all of her friends together and Sue's Half Century Challenge was born. The day consisted of a senior Olympics, scavenger hunt around my home town and a trivia night focused on Sue and her favorite movies, books, place, songs, etc. The day was so much fun and the attempt to bring friends together was definitely a success.

For this blog series, I'm going to break down the ideas into separate party ideas, but just know that this can  be done a three-event celebration too!

GET ORGANIZED
The key to any complicated party, is a detailed itinerary. This should include pre-party planning as well as party details and is best kept in a Google Doc (for easy access from any devise and in case you need to share with your co-party-planner). Here is an outline to get you started:

I. To Do List
II. Contacts

III. Deadlines 

IV. Schedule of Events

V. Refreshments

VI. Decorations

VIII. Rules & Guidelines
IX. Pack List

Want to see a template for an itinerary you can copy for yourself? Click here.

SET THE DATE
First of all, set your date. Duh. Get it on the calendar, lock down your venue and mention to your closest (most essential) guests to keep that day clear.

MAKE THE GUEST LIST
One of the first things you need to do, regardless of party theme, is set your guest list. Is this going to be the kind of shindig where you invite everyone you've ever known? Or a more intimate event with a couple of your closest pals? Type out your guest list and then go through the contacts in your phone to make sure you didn't forget anyone. If they aren't a contact in your phone, then they aren't close enough to invite. NOTE: if you are planning a team-based event, you will probably want even numbers, so keep that in mind.

SET YOUR THEME
This is the time to set a Pinterest board. One, to collect party theme ideas and then a second to collect decoration, food, game ideas once you have a theme. Three themes I can think of right off the bat: Olympics, scavenger hunt or trivia...

SEND INVITES
You know I can make invites for you, right? They're one of my favorite things to design...especially if you have a fun theme! But if you're making your own invites, don't forget the essentials:

Name of Event
Date & Time
Location (including Address)
RSVP Date & Contact

Other information....
Is it a surprise?
Is there a hashtag?
Is there a preferred dress code?
Are gifts accepted?
Are there shirts?
If a shower, is there registry information?

Be sure to keep your Contacts list (in the itinerary) updated as RSVPs come in! Note the narrow size of my invite...know why? Because it's the size of an iPhone (5) screen...so you can send it as an image in a text and they can save it and look at how beautiful it is!

UPDATE YOUR ITINERARY
That's why Google Docs rock. You have an app on your phone, so the minute you remember you need to pack scissors, pull up the list and add it! If you do that, you won't forget anything!

5 Ways to Maintain Motivation for Running

I ran my first half marathon on Saturday..WOOHOO! Very exciting. It was part of the Roots 'n' Blues 'n' BBQ Festival, which is just about one of the coolest events in Columbia. I have been training for the last seven months and am pretty proud about it. Since high school and the end of daily, team practices, I have struggled to maintain motivation for working out. I'll get an itch once or twice a year and really go for it...but it doesn't usually last longer than a month or so. But this time I've managed a whole seven months and *fingers crossed* maybe even longer. Based on self-observation, here's how I figure I've pulled it off...


1. Use MapMyFitness
MapMyFitness is a handy little app that tracks your run. Every mile, this lovely little voice pops in your ear and tells you what mile you're on, your pace, split and total time. The app keeps a nice little record of all your runs and a feed so you can see what all your friends have been running. WARNING: every now and then MapMyFitness can be glitchy, inaccurately measuring the milage up to as badly as two minutes per mile (ridiculous). I strongly suggest that you always close out of any other apps you have running, listen to your music through the application and try not to pause/open the app during your run.


2. Make a Running Plan
This is a two part strategy...

First, you have to set a weekly schedule as far as which days you intend to run. I have a theory that you should plan to run everyday...the key is plan to run everyday. This doesn't mean you don't take breaks! It just means that you get in the mindset of working out daily instead of making excuses and skipping workouts when you can't stick to a strict schedule of Monday/Wednesday/Friday. If something comes up, I don't feel bad about missing a day of running since I know I ran yesterday and will be running again tomorrow. It also helps establish the activity as a habit. When you don't question whether or not you feel like working out, you just get dressed and go.

Second, you should consider what your long-term milage plan is going to be.When training for a race, you'll find that most schedules suggest you run lighter, lower miles through the week, leading up to one long run on the weekend. Each weekend, you add one mile to your long run distance and eventually...you can run 26.2 miles! Or whatever. While I fully support this general training schedule, I liked to keep it pretty casual. I would choose the week day mileage about mid-run when I could get a feel for what my body was up to. I am not sure how many miles I'll run on my long days now that I don't have a specific race to train for, so I'll keep you updated on that.


3. Run with Friends
Yay for friends! I was pretty anti-friend-runs before this seven-month fit of fitness. I was not much of a long distance runner in high school, so I couldn't quite wrap my head around the idea that we would be chatting while working out. But a co-worker and I just went for a run one day and it wasn't all that bad. So, we started running once or twice a week for a couple of miles and then talked ourselves (and almost the whole department) into the half marathon and the rest is history. When choosing a running buddy, be sure to pick a talker. It makes it a lot easier when the conversation is split evenly!


4. Find New Places to Run
Let's just all agree that running on treadmills is the ABSOLUTE WORST. I would rather face the cold and the heat and the rain then be stuck inside running in place for an hour. So, once you're outside, don't be afraid to mix it up and explore new places to jog. MapMyFitness has an online platform that allows you to map out routes and shows you the milage as you go. Then you save the route to your profile and select it before you run. Another little suggestion for finding new running routes, is to literally* run your errands. I have run to my grocery store (2.5 miles for onion powder), my mechanic (4 miles after dropping off my car), Logboat Brewing Company (3 miles to meet friends for happy hour) and Menards (4 miles to pick up screws). You are pretty limited as to what you can do, since you have to run home with whatever you buy, but it definitely keeps things interesting!


5. Set an End Goal
Knowing that all my training was in preparation for a half marathon was a huge motivator. It helped push me through busy weeks when it was difficult to make time to run and in the last couple miles of a painful long run. And now that it's all said and done. I am not sure what my next end goal will be, but I think I'll just keep adding on miles to my long run and see how far I can get? Maybe there's a marathon in my future...who knows?


* Proper use of the word literal...YES.